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Tyler Hunnex - I started/founded/began Let's Go Birds in September of 2007 after feeling like my favorite Junior Hockey team needed more discussion and analysis. I'm statistically minded, forever frustrated by the Tbirds and my all-time favorite player was #10. I think I'm funny and my writing would probably disagree. Follow me on Twitter @TylerHunnex.

Jon Whiting - Jon joined the Let's Go Birds team in the summer of 2013. His passion for the Thunderbirds is as big as any fan I've ever met. His two kids are named after former Tbirds and his favorite all-time players were Patrick Marleau and Olaf "Ole" Kjenstad, who he swears is the best pure scoring Tbird ever.

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Hockey Challenge 2014

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3.07.2012

Playoff Hopes Alive in PG

Seattle managed to pick up a much needed 3-1 win last night in
Prince George to keep their playoff hopes alive. On the flip side, they
probably "ruined" any chance at finishing below the Cougars and
gaining the #1 pick in the upcoming Bantam draft. Of course, if Seattle misses
the playoffs they will be a part of the WHL Lottery and could still get the #1
pick... but I digress.

Unfortunately, my
laptop came back from my
latest Las Vegas trip a bit wounded and decided that it didn't like the WHL
website or video feed from Prince George. I
wasn't able to watch much more than 10 minutes of the first period, so I can't comment too much on the game itself. As a result, I’ll focus on some bigger picture topics.

Seattle now trails
Everett by 1 point for the 8th and final playoff spot in the Western Conference
and trail Victoria by 2 points with a game in hand. It just so happens that
Everett will host Victoria tonight at the EEC in a game should also have a big
impact on the playoff race. It goes without saying that any points at this
stage in the season are critical and Seattle, Everett and Victoria will all
need them tonight. Prince George is now 4 points behind Seattle and 5
behind Everett and will likely find themselves on the outside looking in. The
Cougars are in a must-win tonight against Seattle or their
playoff hopes are likely done.

The Massey Ratings
still don't like the Tbirds chances, as they are rated 22nd (dead last) in
predictive results for the rest of the season. (editors note: this does not
include results from last night's game). Let's take a look at the remaining
schedule and see what we might be looking at.

Best case scenario
-

Seattle at Prince
George - W

Portland at
Seattle - L

Everett at Seattle
- W

Spokane at Everett
- at least 1 point

Seattle at Spokane
- L

Everett at Seattle
- W

Seattle at Porland
- L

That would give
Seattle 7-8 points and finish 53 or 54 points.

Worst case scenario -

Seattle at Prince George - L (with PG playing for their
season)

Portland at Seattle - L

Everett at Seattle - W*

Spokane at Everett - L

Seattle at Spokane - L

Everett at Seattle - W*

Seattle at Porland - L

* - In this scenario Seattle splits
the two remaining games with Everett, doesn't matter which order.

This leaves Seattle with 2 more
points and if I add a loser point in there they finish with 48 or 49 points.

Everett: (best guess)

Victoria at Everett - W

Portland at Everett - L

Victoria at Everett - at least 1
point

Everett at Seattle - L

Everett at Kelowna - L

Everett at Tri-City - L

Everett at Seattle - W

This leaves Everett with 52 or 53
points.

Victoria: (best guess)

Victoria at Everett - L

Victoria at Kelowna - L

Victoria at Everett - 1 point

Victoria at Vancouver - L

Portland at Victoria - L

Portland at Victoria - W*

* - I'm saying Victoria gets 1 or 2
points out of that weekend series with Portland

That leaves Victoria 50 or 51
points.

Ok... what does this all mean??

1) Seattle has a very tough road ahead if they don't win tonight. Without a win, they are probably done.

2) Victoria has a pretty difficult
schedule the rest of the way and they probably have to win a game in Everett or
steal the game in Kelowna or Vancouver to have a shot.

3) Everett's schedule is pretty
favorable. They've played well at home lately and they have two games against
Vic left at home followed by two trips to Showare that are winnable games. I
think Everett has to be considered the favorite to get at least one of these
two playoff spots.

6 comments
:

Anonymous
said...

In listening to the game last night some comments that Tom made during the broadcast stood out to me. "T Birds come out flat in the first 20 minutes" "T-Birds aren't playing with a sense of urgency" "The T Birds don't have any jump tonight" These group of players just don't seem like they have the heart it takes to move forward as a team, the vets especially just don't seem to step up and our so called stars like Jacobs and Trook are not scoring. Jacobs seems like a ghost, during the broadcasts I don't seem to notice his name called that much by Tom.

In fairness, Troock is a rookie. He missed all of last season and a good part of this season with injuries. I can't defend Jacobs, never really been too big of a fan of him. But yeah 2nd worse offense in the WHL and in the bottome five for defense even with an excellent goalie like Pickard. Hoo Yah Russ. In one of his interviews he seemed to blame the departure of Verdino for most of their recent defensive woes (not they haven't had ongoing woes both defenseive and offensive), a real commedian isn't he. I'm so confident in Russ that even getting the number one overall pick leaves me doubting the result.

one player cannot do it himself.... we have been saying it for years, there isnt much talent here. if you are gonna rely on lockhart, lund, alos, or pretty much anyone else on this team, you are gonna be waiting a long time for this team to score goals and win games. this team is filled with role players, not enough talent....

Tom is one of the greatest announcers in this league if not in the nation for play by play for hockey. Tom has true talent...go higher Tom! Like a team that is jumping to the ECHL that has a 59 nine year veteran broadcaster that is close to retirement and needs a replacement. The midwest is flat but not that bad.